CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston felon caught with a gun while on federal supervised release was sentenced to prison today, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Timothy Lee Leftenant, 37, previously pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. In today’s hearing, he was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for that offense. He was also sentenced to an additional six months in prison for violating his federal supervised release. The sentences will be served consecutively.
On December 28, 2015, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call at America’s Best Value Inn in St. Albans and encountered Leftenant after smelling marijuana outside his room. Leftenant ran from the officers when they attempted to pat him down. As he was running, Leftenant threw his hat, which contained heroin and a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. Leftenant was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of previous felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute crack and for carrying a firearm in relation to a drug crime. Additionally, Leftenant was on federal supervised release for the two prior felony convictions at the time he possessed the handgun.
The investigation was conducted by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn is in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
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